Fastener



Aug. 19, 1952 D. A. LINGNER FASTENER Filed Oct. 28. 1949 Fig.

Fig.4.

Inventor Dora A. Ling/ re,

and

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 The principal object of this invention is to pro vide a simple, but effective, fastener.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a fastener which will not irritate or injure upon contact with a person, or tear garments upon contact with them.

An additional object is to provide a fastener for fabrics which has means for locking the fabric thereto.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a fastener for fabricswhich has means for locking fabric thereto,- and which; will; not irritate or injure a person upon contact therewith, or tear or snag garmentsuponcontact.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision for an improved fastener having fabric engaging fingers laterally separable for locking fabric entwined over them..

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision for an improved fastener formed from a unitary strip, having "fabric locking Ifingers laterally separable for lockingfabrics entwined over them.

An additional feature of this invention resides in the provision for a resilient sheath for the fastener, thereby protecting the user from'the fastener. I

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision for a resilient sheath which will compress the sides of the fastener, thereby laterally separating the fingers into their fabric locking position.

The final feature of this invention, in conjunction with the foregoing features, resides in the provision for a resilient means folding the sides of said fastener together, thereby permitting the resilient sheath to compress the sides, thereby laterally separating the fingers to the fabric looking position.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View of the fastener supported by a belt, showing the sheath enclosed fastener applied to a piece of fabric.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane 2-2 of Figure 4, showing a sectional view of the resilient sheath ensitcoms:

' TFASTENEAR I Dora Lingner, Cloverdale, Calif. I

arass other 28, 1949, Serial No. 124,140 zolei s. ((124-243) closing the fastener with the arms and the fingers of the fastener in their juxtaposed overlying relation to each other.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of thefastener supported by a belt, showing the fastener in its open position with the sheath slidably raise-d relative to the fastener, the fingers of the fastener being in their non locking position.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the fastener showing the resiliently connected sides compressed by the resilient sheath in its enclosing position, and thefingers laterally separated into their fabric locking position.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout th various views, the'numeral Hi refer'sto the fastener generally. The fastener as best shown'in Figure 4, comprises a substantially triangular, flat resilient sheath l2 slidably mounted upon a suspension strap or band I4 enclosing the substantially V- shaped, resilient wireclasp or connector indicated generally by the number I 6.

The clasp l6 has diverging legs or sides 3 resiliently connected by a coil or loop 20, formed in the material of the sides, the upper portion of the loop 20 providing means for attaching the supporting band it. Angularly attached to the sides of the clasp, as at 22, are inwardly extending arms 24 overlying eachother as at 26. Attached to said arms, as at 28, are upwardly extending free end portions or fingers 30, shown in Figure 2 in their fabric locking position.

The resilient sheath [2 has a hollow core 32, the edges 34 of the core being less divergent than the sides E8 of the clasp l5, when the latter sides are in their non-compressed position. The sheath l2 has an aperture 36 in its lower end, said aperture permitting th insertion of th wire clasp l 6, the upper end of said sheath having an aperture 38 at its upper end for permitting the supportingband M to be attached to the clasp [6 by means of the resilient connection 20 for the sides l8.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the fastener i9 the clasp [6. The sheath I2 is then slid downwardly toward the clasp Hi, the lower aperture 36 of the sheath passing over the clasp l6, and the upper aperture 38 of the sheath 12 being guided by the supporting band 14. Since the sides 34 of the sheath 12 are less divergent than the sides 18 of the clasp I6, the downward movement of the sheath [2 will cause the sides iii of the clasp I6 to be compressed toward each other, the compression of the sides 18 being permitted by the resilient connecting means 20. It may be noted at this time, that the resilient connecting means 20 may be constructed in various ways, such as a resilient spring, or a resilient U-shaped member connecting the sides, the loop-shaped resilient connecting means shown being but the preferred construction.

As the sides l8 are compressed toward each other, the fingers 30 are laterally separated, thereby causing the fabric lying between the fingers 3D to be tensioned, the fabric lying between the fingers 30 and the sides l8 being compressed. Upward movement of the fabric, entwined over the fabric engaging fingers 30, is prevented by the sideward deflection of the upwardly turned fingers 30.. Looking of the fabric entwined over the fabric engaging fingers 30 is thereby secured :by the positive action of the fabric engaging fingers 30 inserted through the fabric, and also by the constriction of the fabric due to the lateral separation of the fabric engaging fingers 30. Further, the resilient sheath 12, when in its down, side compressing position, also serves to retain the fabric, entwined over the fabric engaging fingers 30, against the same 28, thereby further preventing the fabric from rising upon the fabric engaging fingers 30, enhancing the looking features of the fastener.

It will be appreciated that the sheath X2, in addition to providing the locking means for the fastener l-G, also acts as a protective shield.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings. it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

.1. A fastener of the character described comprising a suspension strap, a substantially V- shaped, resilient connector on the lower end of said strap, said connector including means for anchoring fabric thereto, and a substantially triangular, flat, resilient sheath slidable on the strap and adapted to enclose the connector, said means including inturned arms on the legs of the connector terminating in upturned free end portions engageahle with the fabric.

2. A fastener of the character described comprising a suspension strap, a substantially V- shaped connector on the lower end of said strap. said connector being formed from a single length of resilient wire and including a coil, divergent legs on the ends of the coil, inturned lapped arms on the free ends of said legs terminating in upturned free end portions engageable with fabric for anchoring same to the connector, and a resilient, substantially triangular sheath slidable on the strap and adaptedto enclose the connector and retain the fabric thereon.

DORA A. LINGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 590,401 .Morgan Sept. 21, 1897 779,311 Pithey Jan. 3, 1905 1,689,889 Nunes Oct. 30, 1928 2,144,897 Salinger Jan. 24, 1939 2,224,626 Marcus Dec. 10,1940

2,301,029 .Falcetti Nov. 3, 1942 2,524,537 Osmonson Oct. 3, 1950 

